On Feb. 13, 12 Hills students from upper-level Spanish classes embarked on an unforgettable trip to Valencia, Spain. Led by Spanish teachers Ivica Kanova and Vanessa Lanchipa, the group spent nine days in Spain.
“The purpose of this trip was to immerse students taking Spanish classes in an authentic environment, allowing them to experience the language as it is spoken in real life through a personalized experience,” said Kanova.
Day 1: Travel
After a seven-hour flight to Madrid, Spain, students took a high-speed train to Valencia, their home for the next eight days. As they took in the Mediterranean air and a historic city buzzing with people, the group stopped for breakfast before taking a mini-tour of Valencian landmarks such as La Plaza de la Reina, La Estrecha, Europe’s narrowest building, and Mercado Central, one of the largest marketplaces in Europe. Students also learned about Valencia’s rich history, including La Lonja de la Seda and the Las Fallas festival.
Day 2: The City of Arts and Sciences
On the second day, the group navigated Valencia through public transportation, taking the bus and using maps to visit La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, also known as the City of Arts and Sciences.
There, students visited Oceanographic, the largest aquarium in Europe, and saw belugas, dolphins, flamingos, seals, and crocodiles before watching a dolphin show focused on conserving the environment.
Students also explored Los Ninots, elaborate sculptures made of paper and wax created for the Las Fallas festival. Each year, the two with the most votes are “saved” from burning, a tradition the students participated in. Concluding this day, students also engaged in a 4D dinosaur experience at the museum.
Day 3: Orange Grove
On Day 3, students ventured to Carcaixent, a smaller town in Valencia. As Valencia is known for its oranges, the group was able to visit an actual Orange Grove, learning about its significance and even getting the opportunity to see how oranges are collected.
Afterwards, students retrieved their own oranges and learned a trick to eat smaller oranges by squeezing the juice out of them. They ended their experience in Carcaixent with a round of games involving oranges and a special meal at the grove.
Day 4-7: Language School
Beyond the cultural experience of visiting many impressive sites, students were also immersed in the Spanish language. Being Spanish students at Hills, the group was able to take their knowledge a step further, learning to communicate with local Valencians on the street, conversing with store clerks, and listening to almost all of their tours in Spanish, often asking the natives to speak to them in solo español.
During the week, students attended Conversa Spanish Institute, a language school, in the heart of Valencia. Each day, students went through sessions of language practice, speaking Spanish with partners, creating their own presentations, and practicing skills like writing and reading. Students would complete 20 hours of intensive Spanish classes on the trip.
Valerie Kimel, a Hills junior who went on the trip, reflected, “I really liked the language school. It was interactive and helped me with my Spanish because we learned new things like vocabulary while also practicing our grammar. It also incorporated speaking, so I felt like it helped me with my speaking as well.”
Day 4: IES Luis Vives School
On the fourth day, the group had the unique opportunity to visit IES Luis Vives, a public high school in Valencia. There, students were assigned different classrooms to present what school life at Hills is like. Luis Vives students did the same, discussing their own school lives and showcasing a performance from their drama class.
For both Hills and Luis Vives students, this was an exciting experience as they were able to compare how different school life is in the United States and Spain. Students also practiced communicating with each other: Hills students spoke in Spanish while Luis Vives students spoke in English.
Adriana, a student at IES Luis Vives, commented on her experience, saying, “Through meeting everyone, I realized how much we have in common, even though we come from such different places…I think that meeting people from different countries helps us to be more open and see the world in a different way…it helps us understand other cultures better and break stereotypes.”
At the end of the school day, the Hills group paired with the Valencian students and went street shopping on Carrer de Colon. With intel from high school students of the same age, the group visited trendy Valencian shops.
Adriana continued, “Plus, this was a great opportunity to make friends and practice other languages.”
Day 5: La Playa de Valencia
Following language school at Conversa, students excitedly headed to La Playa de Valencia via bus. The warm weather and moderate tides allowed students to have a great time swimming in the ocean, playing volleyball, and engaging in other activities.
Day 6: Touring More of Valencia
After a relaxing day, Day 6 was an even busier one for students. In the afternoon, the group visited Torres de Serrano (Serranos Towers), which were once defensive structures during the 14th century. Then, students took a bus ride to the one-of-a-kind Gulliver Park. The group relived childhood memories as they slid down various slides and walked across the figure of Gulliver, which spans over 200 feet long and 30 feet high.
Later that evening, students also experienced a Mass procession at Capilla del Santo Cáliz, a small chapel in the Valencia Cathedral. Also, they viewed the common Gothic-style architecture of Valencian churches.
Day 7: Cooking Paella
On Day 7, students made their own lunch while taking classes at a Spanish kitchen called Valencia Club Cocina. There, they learned how to make Paella, a rice dish that originated in Valencia, and Tortilla Española, an iconic Spanish omelette made with eggs and potatoes.
Christian Lee, a Hills junior, said, “Cooking the Spanish food was an experience I’ll never forget. The way the food was prepared was something that had me blown away.”
Throughout the trip, students tried many other types of traditional Spanish dishes, such as churros con chocolates at the famous Santa Catalina, tapas, small appetizers or snacks, croquetas, and empanadas.
“I think it is a wonderful idea for people to try food from different cultures because there are so many different tastes and flavors that each food from distinct cultures contain,” Lee continued.
Day 8:
On Day 8, the students departed from Valencia and returned to Madrid for their final day in Spain. In Madrid, the group visited the sites of Plaza España, Plaza del Sol, and Palacio Real de Madrid, the official residence of the Spanish royal family. Students ended their evening watching a street show and buying dinner at Mercado de San Miguel, a popular market in Madrid.
When asked about her experience, Kanova reflected, “The trip exceeded my expectations. Considering it was our first time in Valencia, it was nice to see students having fun, enjoying themselves, and practicing Spanish.”
Overall, the trip to Spain was a thrilling and positive experience for all in attendance. Students were able to embrace the Spanish language, visit historical monuments, demonstrate a level of independence in a foreign country, and make lasting memories (which happened to include acquainting with Italian students in Valencia and meeting Mr. Savage, a prominent fortnight streamer). By the end of the trip, students left feeling more united and bonded by their Valencian experience.
Alluding to the jetlag students are experiencing now, Kanova concluded with, “We are tired now, but it’s good tired.”
See the Spain trip gallery below:
